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Hello everyone! My name is Emily. I'm writing a research paper about growing giant pumpkins. If any of you have time, I would love to know how and why you all got started growing giant pumpkins, and why you still do it? Do any of you farm for a living, or is this just a hobby? Are you in it for the competition, or just because you like being outside in the dirt? Do any of you have any terrific or funny garden stories you would like to share with me? I would love to read anything you care to post. Thanks so much!

4/8/2011 8:15:52 PM

Linden, Mi.,

Grow them for the fun of it, if I grew them for the money, I would still be broke.
I have placed first, twice in the pumpkin,twice in watermelon and at least once in, tall corn, long gourd, sunflower and big head sunflower oh yes first place in tomato and trying again this year. Fun - Hell a lot of work :o)

4/8/2011 8:46:41 PM

Fresno, CA

I haven't been growing that long or grown a very big one yet but every year shows improvement. I've had somewhat of a black thumb most of my life. I plant a lot of native plants in my yard because they're easy to take care of. Three years ago I saw a packet of Dills Giant Pumpkin seeds at Lowes with a big pumpkin photo on the front. It said it was possible to grow 400 pound pumpkins. That blew me away (little did I realize at the time that people were already growing 1,500 pound pumpkins). So I bought them on a whim just to try something new.

Growing pumpkins became addictive pretty quickly. It fuels me to learn more about soil and what plants need to grow and be healthy. My main hobbies to this point have been hiking and nature photography both of which take me away from home. When I started growing pumpkins I realized it was a great way to focus on an obsessive hobby at home. My wife's health makes it hard for her to spend much time away from home, so working on my pumpkin patch gives me something to do and spend more time with her.

One of the most amazing things about giant pumpkin growing is the community of growers. It's still amazing to me how everyone here at bigpumpkins.com is willing to share all of their hard-earned knowledge and their champion seeds for no personal gain. They like helping each other out. It's really a model of good team work like the open-source software community.

4/8/2011 11:24:18 PM

Muddy Waters

I love gardens,had one as a teenager,grew big moons store seed in early 90s,I was in my early thirtys.1996 my Uncle brought me a mailer from Ray Waterman offering 50,000 dollars for first 1000 pder.I ordered some seeds grew a 505 pder & headed to Pt.Elgin.Been hooked ever since.The Zehrs grew a 1061 that year!The locals call me the pumpkin man,was walking with my family one day in our neighborhood,a lady approached us and said "I know you, your the pumpkin people"I laughed and replied yes we live next door to the Rutabegi people.

4/9/2011 12:08:50 AM

Griffith, In

My brother got us started growing, he wanted to grow a big one for the county fair in Lake County, Indiana,,,Previous winners were 300 to 400 pounds,,,He got some seeds with a Joel Holland video and grew one 734 pounds and broke the fair record, then we got into competitive growing in the fall weigh offs,,,After the weigh offs are over, at halloween we carve a themed giant pumpkin display which brings alot of people out to see them, The theme is different every year and we enjoy talking to alot of the people and answer their questions about how we grow them, the seeds, how we feed them, how long they grow, how long it takes to carve them and anything else they ask,,,We also pass out seeds to others that want to take a try at growing,,,if you have more questions, my email is [email protected] we have been growing since the late 1990's,,,good luck in your research

4/9/2011 2:17:42 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

I grow them because I'm a compedative person at heart. I like the competition and the thrill of seeing these bad boys grow. Your challenged by the weather, time, genetics and the weigh off competition and most of all yourself. Trying to beat your personal best is what the hobby is about. Friends and family love a giant pumpkin.

4/10/2011 4:26:03 PM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

It is fun,stressful,challanging, yet very relaxing!! In the summer I get up with the sun and work out in the patch, then head off to work for 7 a.m. When I get home again at 5 p.m. the first thing I do is grab a brewski and check on the big boy!! I "try" not to spend to much time in the evening at the patch. My wife gets jealous and I can't afford a divorce. If you let it, it can easily become an obcession. And I am dead serious!!!

Phat Joe

4/11/2011 6:16:22 AM

Muddy Waters

Yeah,but a good 1 Joe,The local paper called my wife a pumpkin widow,at least were home in the yard,not on a bar stool,casino,,could be a whole lot worse.Genesis:2:15

4/11/2011 8:19:04 AM

Cameron

Hi Emily

If you have some questions that you would like to ask, we would be more than happy to help you out. You can email us your questions at [email protected]

We'll include a couple good short stories in our reply. Good luck with the research paper.

Jane & Phil

4/11/2011 9:09:14 AM

Thank you so much to everyone for sharing! I really appreciate your help, and I loved reading your stories.

4/12/2011 10:07:39 PM

Linden, Mi.,

Yes growing these GAINTS is the cpetitiveness, it is very addictive, yet for some reason, you will not fine a finer bunch of friends, you may not know each other but you will do what ever to help each other, (its just a great feeling to know there is always some to talk to and exchange ideas) on the other hand is the public and there reactions,four things I hear most - are they real, can I touch them, can you eat them and how do you get them so big ? Then there are the kids-with their big eyes, the looks you get driving down the e/way, or any road.
I carry a camera with me, when you stop some (any place, the kids (and a lot of adults) all want to come over to see the giants, I take a picture of the kids next to the giant fruit and give it to them. OK I am done. Thanks for listening !

4/13/2011 9:33:45 AM